Zack Britton

I kept a journal after every outing for the majority of my career. So a newsletter felt like the right place to start. That’s The Save. New issue every Tuesday 9am ET. MLB takes, insider stories, Life, Lessons,no filter. 1st one is free to everyone! Link in bio.

New issue out today. thesavenewsletter.com

FYI, to the analytics haters, the Orioles have the biggest lead on third base, and are most aggressive team in baseball at sending runners there. But, analytics don't win baseball games, right @zbritton

@Nick_Verd I can't give you an opinion on why exactly certain players are struggling. I would have to talk to the player. Understand what they are thinking, are they dealing with an injury or other physical issue? Have they lost confidence? That, combined with data would give me direction.

@zbritton I'm actually asking you about things that as a stat nerd I am seeing in the numbers, but don't fully understand because I was never a pitcher. think your analysis on why SPs are missing the zone, would be super insightful/valuable! Do we have examples of overuse of analytics?

It's not analytical baseball or old school baseball. If you can only understand one side, that's a big problem. This age of baseball is about blending the two together. Analytics are a tool to help maximize a roster, identify strengths and weaknesses in a player without bias or emotion. If used correctly, it's a tool to help player performance. Once the game begins, it's about “old school" baseball. Preventing runs defensively/pitching and scoring runs on offense. It's that simple. It's about the fundamentals of the game. Finding a way as a player that day to win every at-bat I take or pitch I throw. Days when I free great, days when I feel terrible. Understanding what it takes physically and mentally to do that is just as important as understanding spin rate, launch angle, wOBA, OPS+, etc.

@Nick_Verd I don't assume I'm providing any insight. Just stating that the game is played human vs human. Because of that, a lot of things aren't quantifiable. You seem like someone that isn't capable of seeing anything beyond data, which ultimately is the problem.

@zbritton Do you think you are providing meaningful insight with these sentences? Do you think that people are unaware that players are not human beings? That using eyes isn't important? What insight does this analysis provide?

Word salad is a term people use when they get offended when people don't fully agree with their own position. I don't have to break down every little thing I know to appease you. I can broadly state my case as to why I believe certain advanced stats matter for in-game performance and why others don't. Why I know using advanced data to scout and develop players doesn't 100% work in a lot of situations. Where "baseball" people still carry value. I played for 12 years. I played without analytics and with a ton of it. I competed against the best every time I stepped on the field and know what it’s like in those moments and I can tell you most of the time I wasn't thinking about the "data" , I was thinking about what my best was that day and how to use it to win.

@zbritton Obviously execution, operating among pressure, dealing with the grueling grind of six months, making adjustments, having a strong work ethic. Those are all massively important things, that we are nowhere close to quantifying.

@Nick_Verd Sorry. I didn't realize I was talking to the smartest guy in the room, who has all the experience. 🤡

@zbritton My entire career is taking data and applying it in high pressure situations. You are making a lot of assertions that quite frankly aren’t true, to compensate for your word salad. Unfortunately, if the Orioles had an analytics department, you might have a ring.

Saber metrics, analytics, advanced data…You obviously have zero idea of how pre-game and in-game information is passed to players. Defensive positioning is talked about before the game starts and then printed on a card for guys to remember. Bullpen usage is planned out before the game, majority of the time. Beyond video (mostly pitching data uploads) you aren't getting updated data down to the guys on the field in-game. Fastball percentage (%) is available on scouting reports players access in game.. No one said data shouldn't be available. You lack knowledge of the actual reality of competing when the lights come on and 50k people are in the stands. It becomes much more mental and physical. The previous data becomes less valuable as the current game is underway. Players are human; they feel pressure, anxiety, adrenaline every day that can change any data point at any moment, making them merely a guideline at best. So if you can’t adapt in the moment, use your eyes, understand what is actually happening in the current game. You won't last long at the MLB level.

@zbritton Zach, analytics is merely information. Information doesn’t stop when the game starts. What you are calling analytics is merely advanced/predictive metrics. For instance, fast ball % would be a useful metric in 1965, 1995, 2025. Is fast ball % an analytic?

Players are ultimately responsible for their preparation and performance. Coaches and the manager can only help so much. The best players, the ones who play the longest, use every resource available to help them gain an edge, to improve. It's a daily habit. I learned a ton about the game from just watching Showalter as a young player. Dave Wallace and Dom Chiti taught me how to build consistency and accountability.

@zbritton Yes. 100%. Did playing for experienced managers and coaches help you during and between games? Or does that solely fall on the players to be prepared?

I won't waste your time and define each into their categories. Saber Metrics/Analytics introduced a new set of stats that, for the most part, non-playing front office executives determined were better than traditional stats at valuing player performance. The tension most feel is whether actual play on the field (Wins, Losses, actual individual performances) should outweigh computed projection models or vice versa.

@zbritton Which stats are analytics and which ones aren't? It seems silly when people act as if there are two camps (not saying you're doing that). There's information, and teams should use it, but obviously we're never going to heave neat solutions to solve for everything.

@longoria_david Definitely believe they still have a chance for a wild card spot but will take some standout performances throughout the rest of the year from multiple players.

@zbritton Do you believe the Orioles have any chance of turning it around this season? I believe it is still way early to tell how this will go but I’d love your opinion on it.

Let's talk ball. Orioles? Yankees? Other teams?

@WVUDDS08 Performing at the MLB level consistently is very difficult. They have had plenty of success stories with prospects coming up and doing well. Out of a team’s top 10 MLB prospects, I’d guess about 4, maybe 5, actually become consistent contributors at the MLB level.

@zbritton Do you feel like the Orioles have a tougher time than other franchises in getting their minor league players to showcase their full potential in the majors? I feel as though the farm system is generally stacked, but there seems to be a disconnect to turning that into MLB talent.

@Damian87383 Yes. Pitchers like throwing to him. If the pitching stuff starts to struggle, maybe then you think about changing it up. They have plenty of offense right now. He also has the ability to hit better than he has, and with power.

@zbritton As a pitcher with defensive insight, at what point does someone like an Austin Wells start to hurt you overall, he is the number one dWAR catcher in the league but one of the worst offensively, do you keep running him out there?

@yankeesky @jeet2ss I loved playing for Boonie.

@zbritton @jeet2ss Zack what do think of Aaron Boone has a manager

@birdlandmetrics 🔥

Orioles players to both homer and pitch in the same game, last 54 seasons: Kris Benson: 6/17/06 at NYM — 1 HR, 8 IP Zack Britton: 7/3/11 at ATL — 1 HR, 5 IP Weston Wilson: 5/18/26 at TB — 1 HR, 1 IP

@J_dman1020 Every manager was inexperienced at one stage.

@zbritton First place they messed up was hiring an inexperienced manager. Then they did nothing to bolster the starting rotation. All of these 1st round draft picks are failing. They just aren’t that good. 🤷🏻‍♂️

@J_dman1020 True. I would argue the organization is now in a great position with this new ownership group.

@zbritton They should be, but they never are. They haven’t had any real success since the 90’s. It’s been over 40 years since they made a WS showing. They are a bottom 1/3 franchise.

Hard to say exactly. Need performance to improve by some keys players. Also need younger unestablished players to make adjustments or start giving other players chances to play. Culture can change quickly when you give someone a chance and they run with it. Lights a fire in everyone else on that team. Not a quantifiable stat but it's real.

@zbritton How would you fix the Os current downward trend?

@J_dman1020 They should be a legit playoff contender every year.

@J_dman1020 I think fans should have high expectations.